We asked some of the hardest working artists, creatives and entrepreneurs we know to open up to us about where they think they got their work ethic from. Below, you’ll find some of those responses, stories, and advice.
Damian Anastasio
Honestly, my work ethic came from my Dad. That man worked harder than anyone I have ever met until the day he died. He came from a very poor Italian immigrant family with 7 brothers. His Dad died when he was 12 and he had to quit school and go to work. Read More>>
Jourdan B. Shelton
My work ethic comes from a blend of deep personal ambition and the people I love most. Growing up in the industry, I learned early on that dedication, resilience, and showing up consistently are what turn passion into real results. Read More>>
Chef James Rucker
Honestly I get my work ethic from my Parents my mother was an entrepreneur my father was a Marine my grandfather was a bbq man in his city of town in Waller Tx. My grandma was the Chef in the family that’s where received all my knowledge from them. Read More>>
David Lesnick
Growing up as a kid in Brooklyn, I was the oldest of three kids. From a very early age my father put responsibilities on me. I was always to watch and protect my brother and sister and take care of them when my folks were not around. My family was low middle income always scraping to make ends meet. Read More>>
Brandon Johnson
Work ethic, for us, is less something we learned and more something we inherited. We were both fortunate to grow up watching our parents model what it looks like to work hard, show up, and take pride in what you do. That example left a mark on both of us that we carry into everything we build together. Read More>>
Celeste Raymond
My resilience comes from my father. He was a former military helicopter pilot who lived by the values of working hard, working smart, and carrying himself with quiet pride. He was never boastful—he simply believed in doing the job and doing it well. Years later, he received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of Ia Drang at Mission X-Ray. Read More>>
Brooke Major
My work ethic was shaped by the example of my parents, both of whom demonstrated throughout their lives that meaningful work is something to embrace, not avoid. Growing up, I watched two people who didn’t simply work hard—they genuinely loved what they did. Read More>>
Travis Strote
I think a lot of my work ethic comes from how I was raised. I grew up in a family of small business owners and artists. There was never really this concept of clocking in and clocking out… work was just part of life. Read More>>
Cindy Laverty
I think I’ve always had a good work ethic, which was instilled in me by my father. He believed that whatever you do in life, should be done well and that you shouldn’t ever settle for mediocre. So it started with him. I had a corporate position that was home based and required me to accomplish a lot every month. Read More>>
Leo Araiza
I feel I’m able to answer two questions here: Where did I get my work ethic? How did I develop my confidence? I owe a lot of who I am to the US Marines. Something the military taught me was to keep on top of things, to check and double-check things to be sure they’re accurate and ready for production use. Read More>>
Brook Borup
I never had a choice. I grew up watching my dad and a whole family of small business owners operate with a level of grit that just wasn’t optional — it was Tuesday. In the Midwest, hard work isn’t a personality trait you brag about. It’s just what you do. Read More>>
Yeshua Hannah
I get my work ethic from my father, and Jesus Christ. Growing up, watching my father in our family go to work early in the morning and coming home late at night imprinted on me in a positive way. I am a christian, Jesus Christ is my lord and savior. Read More>>
Ne’Shia Holden
To begin with, I developed my work ethic from my dad being strict with school and making sure my brother and I were always productive . I grew to simply want more out of life . I started to get these ideas to go to school; to get out the hood ; to become an actress; to be bigger than my known environment . Read More>>
Catherine Cole
I developed my work ethic from my parents. My father was a self-employed carpenter, and my mother specialized in wallpaper installation. They were the first ‘house flippers’ I ever knew; they would buy older homes, renovate them, and resell them. Observing their dedication firsthand taught me exactly how much hard work is required to be successful. Read More>>
Kati Howard, MSN, FNP
I have always wanted to work and saw the importance of it. My parents both taught me at an early age to work harder than anyone else and always complete what you start. My first job was babysitting and I would leave the house in better shape than when I got there. Read More>>
Brandon Wilson
My father. He worked hard to support us. From my parents’ trailer in Knoxville, to modest homes in Alabama and New Jersey — to Memphis, Wisconsin, Atlanta, and back to Knoxville — dad’s work ethic continuously resulted in promotions. And with every move, the house the house got bigger, and our financial stability improved. Read More>>
Brettly Kawaguchi
My parents. My father worked literally until just a few hours until he passed. He worked at his business 7 days a week from 1971 until 1996. Some days from 7 am until 2 am. And showed me what it meant to work hard, and take care of my family. My Mother worked for 2 companies from the 1970’s until the 2010’s until her retirement. Read More>>
Brittanny Gormer
My work ethic was shaped long before I ever realized it. Growing up in a blended family, I watched two people work incredibly hard to build a life for all of us. My stepfather stepped into my life and truly showed up as my father, and watching him provide for our family left a lasting impression on me. Read More>>
Casson Evans
I can confidently say that my dad is my biggest blueprint when it comes to my work ethic. All through life I watched as he persevered through a lot while still keeping a smile on his face. He could be stacked with work or be dealing with something personally but you would never know. He kept moving forward and I always thought that was commendable. Read More>>
Adrienne Brynteson
My work ethic is something I inherited from my mom; she always worked hard and strived to be better. She showed me what it meant to show up and give your best every single day. I carried that mindset into my own life, always working, but it took on a new meaning when I realized that Pensacola was missing a cat cafe. Read More>>
Breanna Naramore
My work ethic comes from being raised in a home where nothing was handed to me. My mom stayed home for much of my childhood, and my dad was a teacher. As the youngest of three girls, I grew up understanding pretty early what a teacher’s salary looked like. Let’s just say hand-me-downs were a big part of my wardrobe for a long time. Read more>>
Derrick Whitfield Sr..
I credit my work ethic to two major influences: my family and my service in the Navy. I grew up in a pro‑Black household that operated more like a village than a traditional family. Everybody pitched in, cooking, cleaning, yard work, whatever needed to be done. There were no egos. Read More>>
Bledar Gashi
I think a lot of my work ethic comes from my upbringing and from sports. Growing up in an immigrant family in Belgium, I learned from a young age that things wouldn’t simply be handed to me. If I wanted something, I had to work for it. Read More>>
Joanna Suazo
My work ethic comes from my upbringing and the importance my family placed on responsibility and hard work. As the owner of Its JoJo, LLC, I apply those values by leading with dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to creating memorable experiences for my clients. Read More>>
Jennifer Vigoa
My work ethic comes from my parents. Growing up I started dancing at the age of 2. Eventually I started dancing competitively, and anyone who has ever done competitive sports knows the uniform or costumes in this case are not cheap. Not to mention traveling to competitions and the lodging that goes with it. Read More>>
Hana Inhee Yang
My work ethic comes from both my cultural roots and the quiet discipline that art itself requires. Growing up with a strong awareness of my Korean heritage, I learned the values of patience, dedication, and respect for tradition. Those values naturally became part of my artistic life. Read More>>
Jasmine Ellington
My work ethic comes from a deep sense of purpose and the way I was raised. I was taught that when God places something in your hands, you steward it well and you don’t give up easily. I’ve also learned that real impact requires consistency, compassion, and a willingness to serve even when it’s hard. Read More>>
Xayne Allen
I get my work ethic from my mom. Watching her work hard, stay disciplined, and keep going even when things weren’t easy taught me the value of consistency and responsibility. It motivated me to hold myself to the same standard. I love telling stories that I always see get swept under the rug. Read More>>
Lawain Howell
y work ethic is deeply rooted in the journey of my father, a Jamaican-born U.S. citizen who redefined what it means to pursue a ‘better life.’ Growing up, I witnessed the discipline of a man who never settled for mediocrity; he was an academic standout who maintained straight As, eventually parlaying that brilliance into a high-level career as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Read More>>
Kiara Aguillon
I get my work ethic from both my upbringing and an internal drive to succeed. I was raised by a single mom, and watching her navigate everything with resilience, discipline, and care instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and drive from an early age. That foundation shaped how I approach my work, with consistency, integrity, and an ability to pivot when necessary. Read More>>
Graciela DeAnda
My work ethic comes from my parents, especially from watching how hard they worked to provide for our family. Growing up as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I saw firsthand the sacrifices they made. My dad often missed important moments because he was working long hours, and my mom carried the responsibility of holding our family together. Read More>>
Lucia Gallipoli
This is going to sound very dramatic, but it is my truth: I am very scared of dying with regrets and think about the fact that I only get one life on an hourly basis… So admittedly, my work ethic comes from a place of anxiety. I have used it to my advantage though, I think! Read More>>
Adrian Espinal
I got my work ethic from understanding the necessity of discipline rather than motivation. In many aspects of life things will take time to develop and you will need to push past the inconsistency of progress. For example, in my fitness journey becoming stronger, putting on muscle, those are all things that will take time. Read More>>
Tatiana & Eibar Yanez
Our work ethic is rooted in our family’s legacy. With over 17 years of experience in this industry learning from the best bosses before we became business owners ourselves. Our ethic is built on honesty, responsibility and professionalism. That foundation gave us the deepest respect for craftsmanship and commitment to personalized service on every project. Read More>>
Alex Baum
I’ve always believed that work ethic is largely a product of the environment you’re in and the people you surround yourself with. I grew up watching my parents work tirelessly day after day. What’s even more admirable is that through all of the years, I’ve never heard them complain about anything. No matter how tired or stressed out they were, you’d never know it. Read More>>
Becky Beals
I think my work ethic was shaped by family. I grew up the second of six kids in a big, busy household, and now I’m at the end of raising five kids of my own. From an early age I learned that the things that matter most—whether it’s relationships, creativity, or meaningful work—take effort and care. Read More>>
Allison Scarinzi
I learned my work ethic long before I ever had the language for it. It didn’t come from a motivational speech or a business book. It came from watching people in my life do what needed to be done, whether they felt like it or not. A 17 year career in social work, all direct client care, will force a perspective of doing what’s right. Read More>>
Faith Chavez Matzel
My work ethic really began to take shape when I was young. I am the youngest of three children, and growing up I was always trying to keep up with my older siblings. I wanted to be like them, so I was constantly trying to do the “next” thing and push myself a little further. Read More>>
Ammiel de Leon
My dad instilled in us a good sense of responsibility growing up. Part of it was knowing his own story of struggles to get out of poverty in his youth and the other part was showing us how to value faith, hard work, integrity, humility, and excellence as he led his own family in his daily life. Read More>>
Stephanie Spirou
I think my work ethic comes from a mix of my upbringing and my personality. I was always taught that if something matters to you, you show up for it fully. As an adult, building my photography business while working another job has reinforced that mindset. Read More>>
Taylor Gray
I think my work ethic really comes from overcoming challenging circumstances in my life. I’ve always been someone who tries to take challenges head-on and figure out what I can make of them, rather than letting them define me. I became a mother very young—I was pregnant at sixteen—so from an early age I had to grow up quickly and learn resilience. Read More>>
Andrew Houn
My work ethic comes largely from my mother. Growing up, I watched her pursue excellence across many different fields, and that left a lasting impression on me. She is a pianist, painter, jewelry designer, YouTube creator, and the CEO of AcornTree Skincare. She is also currently writing a book on music history that is set to be published soon. Read More>>
Philip Paulsen
My work ethic comes from discovering something I truly loved at a young age. When I started playing guitar and found rock ’n’ roll at 15, it became a lifelong obsession. I’ve always believed that if you’re going to do something, you should do it wholeheartedly. That mindset shaped me early on, and it’s how I approach everything I build creatively today. Read More>>
Tiffany Gordon
For me, work ethic is the desire to care about the hard work you put in and the value of what you produce. My mindset has never been about whether the glass is half full or half empty, but the overall outcome. If you’re going to invest your time and effort into something, it should be done at your best. Read More>>
Jamal Charles 
My work ethic began with my parents, who would get up and go to work every day, regardless of how their day was going. I also played sports since I was 8 years old, so it’s pretty much ingrained into me to work hard to reach the next level. Read More>>
Amanda Gullo
I got my work ethic from my parents, but overall I believe my work ethic came from my environment – I was born and raised in New York, on Long Island, the border of Queens and Nassau County. To survive in the city, you must have work ethic that outshines the masses. Read More>>
Laura Sahlberg
As a child my dad made a point of instilling responsibility into me. He did this through modeling, collaboration, and encouragement. My dad modeled a disciplined work ethic by doing his best with his responsibilities at work or at home. As a young girl, I can remember going on visitations with my dad and watching as he listened to sick people and prayed with them. Read More>>
Malia Sanchez
I developed my work ethic largely from my grandparents, my mom, and my sister. Growing up, my mom was a single parent who worked every day at the post office. She often worked long hours and would come home exhausted, sometimes needing to nap after her shift. Read More>>
La Quinta Fisher
My work ethic was cultivated at a young age by observing my parent’s moral principles and strong religious beliefs in Christianity. It provided me with a moral foundation to build on. They also provided messages like “finish what you start” and “finish strong” which taught responsibility early on. I believe work ethics are built overtime. Read More>>
Michelle Bongirno
Being in the industry for almost 15 years now you have to learn to go with the ebbs and flows of the season. My love language is acts of service and I’m in the service industry. I want to deliver the best experience I can with each session or job that I’m working. Read More>>
Leo Luna
My parents. They are the best example of resiliency and hard work. They have ran their restaurant with basically no marketing, nothing but word of mouth for several years. It wasn’t until I started working with them 7 years ago that we started to create and leave a digital footprint. Luna’s has been in business for 24 years now. Read More>>
Craig Necker
I would have to give credit to God, my late mother and grandfather. God has blessed me with my career and I owe my best because of it everyday. My mother Karen, for being a single mother most of her life and constantly working 2 jobs to provide for me and my sister Amy. Read More>>
Suchi Rao
Like a lot of people, my work ethic comes from my parents. They immigrated to the United States from India, with my dad arriving first on a student visa and my mom joining him later. Eventually they owned a small health food store and yoga retreat in a beach town. Read More>>
Kristen Kane
I’d say my work ethic really comes from my family. My grandfather was an entrepreneur who owned tire shops and restaurants, and my grandmother had that same entrepreneurial spirit. She owned a bridal shop and also worked alongside him in the restaurants. Read More>>
Patricia Russell
My work ethic comes from my parents. I grew up with parents who were both terrific role models. My father was the primary bread winner, working hard outside of the home. He often travelled for work, but always made time for family. My mother ran our household. Read More>>
Rose Simeus
I get it from my aunts. Growing up, I was always taught to work hard for what you want, respect people’s time, and always put your best foot forward. My aunts would always say you need to work hard and in turn you will be rewarded with your heart’s desires. Read More>>
